Chapter 111: Consecutive Frights

Chapter 111: Consecutive Shocks

The girl wore a figure-hugging qipao that accentuated her curves even more, the waist tightly cinched. The slit on the dress was exaggeratedly high, revealing glimpses of lace and frills of her underwear with each step she took, making onlookers burn with desire.

“Miss Niu, you’re here to eat as well?” Huang Chengren hurried over to the girl, his smile brimming with warmth.

“Is that you, Huang Shiren? No, Mr. Huang! You're eating here too?” The girl was none other than Niu Huahua, the arrogant, big-breasted rich girl known more for her looks than her brains. Seeing Huang Chengren approach, she was momentarily stunned, then smiled—though her smile was clearly perfunctory.

Huang Chengren’s expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn’t heard her mistakenly call him Huang Shiren. He invited warmly, “Yes, I’m here with some friends for a meal. Miss Niu, do you have company? Would you like to join us?” He gave a subtle nod to his nephew standing beside him.

“Yes, Miss Niu, please join us. Today it’s an old classmate treating us, just us—no outsiders,” Zhang Deming quickly caught on and also invited her.

Huang Chengren nearly spat out his drink. He had always thought Zhang Deming was dull and slow-witted, but now he realized his nephew was downright foolish—saying something so absurd was beyond belief. Only someone under extreme duress could be that dense.

Niu Huahua, however, paid no attention to their offers and shook her head with a displeased look. “No thanks, I don’t have time today. I’m here accompanying my old man to a dinner meeting.”

“Oh? Mr. Niu is coming too?” Huang Chengren’s eyes lit up, his mind already racing.

“Yes. Oh, I should call him now—wonder if he’s arrived yet?” Niu Huahua’s careless nature shone through. She pulled out her phone without any regard for their reactions, openly speaking into it, “Hey, I’m at the Jin Ding entrance. Where are you? I’ll come find you… You’re still a few minutes away? Okay, I’ll wait for you at the door. Oh, your daughter’s so pretty, you’ll spot her right away. Bye!”

She hung up abruptly, ignoring the other party’s reply. Then, noticing Huang Chengren still standing there, she asked curiously, “Why are you two still standing here? Didn’t I say I don’t have time to eat with you? If you want to treat me, make another appointment.”

Knowing Niu Huahua’s temperament, Huang Chengren wasn’t angry. Instead, his smile grew even more enthusiastic. “Was that Mr. Niu on the phone just now?”

“Who else but that old man dares shout at me like that?” Niu Huahua snorted, finally realizing the occasion and refrained from calling herself “old lady,” though she clearly felt slighted by the call.

“Haha, that’s Mr. Niu being affectionate. You said he’ll be here soon?” Huang Chengren asked, adopting the tone of a kindly elder.

“Should be soon. He said he’s stuck in traffic,” Niu Huahua frowned and snorted.

“At this hour, traffic jams are common in Kun City. Private cars are just too many—everyone seems to own one. Isn’t it just a burden on society?” Huang Chengren sighed. Noticing Niu Huahua’s less-than-impressed gaze, he quickly changed course, grinning, “Don’t worry. Since Mr. Niu is arriving soon, Mingming and I will wait with you.”

“You’re here with friends, aren’t you? Don’t waste your time on me. Don’t neglect your friends,” Niu Huahua waved her hand dismissively.

“What friends? Just some ordinary clients. How could they compare to Mr. Niu? If they knew they were waiting for Mr. Niu, they’d feel honored,” Huang Chengren said with self-righteousness.

“Damn, how fake,” Niu Huahua muttered under her breath.

Huang Chengren pretended not to hear. He wasn’t really flattering Niu Huahua but her father. Knowing her nature, he wouldn’t stoop to petty squabbles. Years of experience in the social jungle had thickened his skin.

Just as he was about to find a reason to prolong their forced camaraderie, Niu Huahua suddenly let out a startled “Ah!” and darted up the steps.

“Jiang Xue, is that you? No way, what a coincidence! You’re eating here too?” Niu Huahua jogged over to Jiang Xue, her smile dazzling as if she had completely forgotten the slap Jiang Xue had given her earlier. Then she turned to Chu Fei and Ximen Lu with a forced smile, “Sister Lu, Mr. Chu, you’re here as well?”

“Quite the coincidence. Why not? Can’t we eat here?” Jiang Xue raised an eyebrow, her tone cool. After the KTV incident, she had taken an immediate dislike to Niu Huahua, who had the audacity to provoke Brother Chu. Women are petty and grudging by nature, and especially so when it involves a man they care about. Jiang Xue was no exception.

“No, that’s not what I meant. I was asking which room you’re in; I’ll pay the bill,” Niu Huahua quickly smiled, her mind sharp despite her straightforwardness. She knew better than to provoke Jiang Xue, having been scolded harshly by her father for the last incident—almost getting beaten with a belt. It was the first time she’d seen him so furious.

Chu Fei watched from the side, unable to suppress a grin. Compared to Jiang Xue’s petty jealousy, he had long since moved past the fact that Niu Huahua had forced Wang Zhenhua to kneel and apologize to Ximen Lu. Sometimes he even found the girl’s directness somewhat endearing. Seeing Jiang Xue still giving Niu Huahua a hard time, he interrupted, “No need for treating; we have business to attend to today.”

“Yes, we have business, so Miss Niu, please don’t trouble yourself,” Ximen Lu smiled politely. She still held a certain respect for these elite rich girls.

“Alright then, another time. I’ll treat next time,” Niu Huahua sensed the moment and wisely changed her tone, continuing to smile.

On the steps, Huang Chengren and Zhang Deming exchanged glances. Huang Chengren’s eyes widened in disbelief. What was going on? Why was Niu Huahua suddenly so friendly with those three?

His heart skipped a beat. He knew of Niu Huahua’s background. In all of Kun City, there weren’t many richer or more influential than her. She belonged to the ranks of the super-wealthy elite.

At that moment, a black business van slowly pulled up. A middle-aged man with a slightly receding hairline stepped out. He had the air of someone long accustomed to power, naturally commanding respect.

Huang Chengren immediately gave up his idle thoughts and approached with a flattering smile. This stern-faced man was none other than Niu Huahua’s father, Niu Cheng—a rather plain name, but in Kun City, an undeniably powerful figure. Recently, he had been rising rapidly, a true titan of the city. Though Huang Chengren was a branch director at Donghai Bank, a seemingly prestigious title, he was at best a second- or third-tier figure. Banking required solid social connections, which explained his eagerness to curry favor with Niu Huahua—to leverage her relationship with Niu Cheng to secure his footing in Kun City.

“Mr. Niu, you’re here…”

When facing Niu Huahua, Huang Chengren was merely warm, but before Niu Cheng, he became obsequious and sycophantic, utterly losing all dignity like a lapdog.

Yet his flattery was utterly ignored.

Niu Cheng passed by without even glancing at him. Huang Chengren’s smile froze instantly. Though he had humbled himself, he was still a notable figure in Kun City; Niu Cheng’s disregard was a direct slap to his face.

Others might have lost their temper, but Huang Chengren held back, took a deep breath, and forced a radiant smile. He convinced himself that Niu Cheng must not have recognized him, or else he wouldn’t have been so dismissive. But then, a few steps behind, Huang Chengren’s eyes widened even further—almost falling out of their sockets.

In front of everyone, the notoriously icy-faced Mr. Niu was now smiling warmly as he greeted a girl.

“Jiang Xue, is that really you? I thought I was seeing things. Haha, you’re dining here too?”

Niu Cheng climbed the steps, smiling broadly as he greeted Jiang Xue.

“Hello, Mr. Niu. Yes, quite a coincidence,” Jiang Xue smiled lightly, noticeably more polite than with Niu Huahua, though still far from warm.

Niu Cheng didn’t mind. He continued smiling, “Which room are you in, Miss Jiang? I’ll pay the bill.”

This single sentence made Huang Chengren’s legs go weak. He nearly tumbled down the steps. Not only him—Zhang Deming trailing behind him turned deathly pale as well.

In their hearts, a thunderous thought exploded.

The sky was falling!

It was understandable for Niu Huahua to offer to treat—she was a spoiled rich girl with a messy social circle. But for Niu Cheng to offer? Only a handful of people in Kun City could make him say that.

Who was this girl that made Niu Cheng open his wallet so readily?

Huang Chengren stared pale at the delicate girl in the pink qipao several meters away. Even a fool wouldn’t believe Jiang Xue was merely a small KTV hostess. What kind of hostess would receive such deference from Niu Cheng?

Huang Chengren felt that even if the CEO of Donghai Bank himself came to Kun City, Niu Cheng might not be so courteous—not because the CEO’s status was lower but because Niu Cheng simply didn’t need to be. That was real confidence. In Kun City, Niu Cheng was in a league of his own.

What was even more shocking was that Huang Chengren overheard Jiang Xue refuse Niu Cheng’s offer again.

“No need to trouble you, Mr. Niu,” Jiang Xue’s voice remained calm and cool.

“Heh, alright then. We won’t disturb you, Miss Jiang. Please, go on inside,” Niu Cheng said without excessive politeness. After speaking to Jiang Xue, he nodded politely to Chu Fei and Ximen Lu, then gestured for his daughter to enter the hotel.

Jiang Xue furrowed her brow, clearly displeased at encountering Niu Huahua and Niu Cheng, especially Niu Huahua’s presence, which soured her mood further. Looking up, she saw Huang Chengren lingering halfway up the steps, looking at her with a panicked expression.

Jiang Xue’s irritation deepened. She frowned and said, “Mr. Huang, many people are watching. Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Ah?” Huang Chengren snapped out of it, hurriedly explaining, “I’m not—I, I…”

“It’s getting late. Let’s go in and eat while we talk,” Jiang Xue said coolly. Turning to Chu Fei and Ximen Lu, she immediately changed her demeanor, smiling charmingly, “Brother Chu, let’s hurry inside. Standing here so long has made me starving.”

“Heh—”

Chu Fei shot Jiang Xue a quick glare, then glanced subtly at the pale-faced Huang Chengren, ignoring him and following Jiang Xue inside. Thinking to himself, “Serves you right for pretending. Scared the hell out of you.”

Once inside, he lowered his voice and remarked, “The little lady’s got skills. That Huang Shiren almost wet himself.”

“What skills? Those father and daughter weren’t invited by me,” Jiang Xue snorted, a bit vexed. She had prepared some tricks for this dinner, but it seemed they wouldn’t be needed. As Chu Fei said, Huang Chengren was already scared stiff. If he got any more frightened, he’d probably faint. How could they have a meal then?

“Really?” Chu Fei was surprised. He had thought the Niu family duo were Jiang Xue’s deliberate entourage.

Compared to Chu Fei and Jiang Xue, Ximen Lu was more down to earth. Seeing Huang Chengren still standing outside, she smiled and invited, “Mr. Huang, let’s go in as well.”

“All right, all right. Let’s go in and talk,” Huang Chengren nodded hastily. At that moment, facing Ximen Lu’s smile, he felt a genuine shiver of unease.